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Bracket 2015: Round of 32 Aftermath

Duke (1) vs. San Diego State (8) – Just as I predicted, this wasn’t a real test from the Aztecs, who just didn’t have an answer for the dominance of Okafor and that Duke pressure. The test will be sterner against Utah.

Utah (5) vs. Georgetown (4) – These Utes may have come into the tournament on a bit of a slide, but they’ve righted the ship just in time, taking out an under performing Georgetown team that gets to mull another disappointing tournament trip.

UCLA (11) vs. UAB (14) – The Bruins also ended up the season on a negative note, but they’ve gotten relatively lucky so far in the tournament, barely getting by a weak SMU squad, and then getting to face a 14-seed, making it to the Sweet 16 where they may get another gift.

Iowa (7) vs. Gonzaga (2) – The Zags do what they have to do, powering it up and slamming the door shut on Iowa early and often. They are looking like a Final Four contender right now.

THE EAST

Villanova (1) vs. NC State (8) – Wow, so once again this Villanova team, one that looked so sharp in taking out Lafayette in the round of 64, looked anything but for the majority of the game against the Wolfpack, becoming the first #1-seed to get taken out this tournament, and destroying my bracket.

N. Iowa (5) vs. Louisville (4) – Chalk another one up for Rick Pitino getting the best out of the least, and while this Louisville team isn’t as good as the one that won two years ago, they might not need to be.

Dayton (11) vs. Oklahoma (3) – The 3-seed got down early, but they survive a valiant effort from the Flyers in this one, finally winning one for the higher seed. Now they’re the highest seed remaining in the East and we’ll see what they can do with it.

Michigan State (7) vs. Virginia (2) – And this one crushed Virginia’s hopes, and destroyed even more brackets, as the Cavaliers shot just under 30% for the game. You’re not going to win many of them shooting under 30%.

THE WEST

Wisconsin (1) vs. Oregon (8) – The Badgers took care of business against a Ducks team that has made a career lately out of going farther than they should in this tournament. Now Wisconsin faces a sterner test in a North Carolina team that is peaking at the right time.

Arkansas (5) vs. North Carolina (4) – In a back and forth game this one came down to the Tar Heels taking care of the ball down the stretch, taking out an Arkansas team that had momentum early and faded late.

Xavier (6) vs. Georgia State (14) – Again, a team benefiting from the earlier round, Xavier had a relatively easy time dispatching the 14-seed and advancing to the Sweet 16 to face Arizona.

Ohio State (10) vs. Arizona (2) – Unlike Virginia, Arizona decided to play like a #2-seed when it counted, going up big late and sending the Buckeyes packing.

THE MIDWEST

Kentucky (1) vs. Cincinnati (8) – I’ll give it to them, that Cincinnati team hung in there much longer than I thought they would, but the power of Kentucky brutalized them when it mattered most.

West Virginia (5) vs. Maryland (4) – West Virginia shows once again that it should have been the 4 and Maryland should have been the 5, but regardless, WV moves on to face a Kentucky team that might just lose this one.

Butler (6) vs. Notre Dame (3) – This one went down to the wire — and then some — as the Irish were forced to overtime in order to defeat a pesky Butler team that never gave up.

Wichita State (7) vs. Kansas (2) – The Midwest is scary, but it’s not just Kentucky making noise. The Shockers are now one win away from facing down the Wildcats, and I would put even money on them at this point.